First Grade Readiness Skills Checklist (Free Printable)

The move into first grade is another exciting step on your child’s educational journey. Maybe your child is finishing kindergarten and already making strides in reading, writing, and math, or maybe you have a few worries about their progress, this free printable first grade readiness checklist is a helpful and encouraging way to see how they’re progressing.

First grade builds on the core skills developed in earlier years and introduces more complex language skills, math concepts, and critical thinking. It’s also a time when emotional skills and social-emotional development continue to grow as children begin to tackle tasks more independently and develop deeper comprehension.

This simple first grade readiness assessment is ideal for parents, teachers, and homeschoolers who want a clear, visual way to track key skills. It’s a valuable tool for supporting a smooth transition into the new school year.

What’s Included on the First Grade Checklist

Here’s what you’ll find on the First Grade I Can… Checklist. These essential skills help children build confidence as they begin formal learning in reading, writing, and math — all while continuing to develop their ability to work independently.

Read Easy Sentences – A step up from sight words, reading full sentences builds fluency.

Sound Out Words – Phonics and blending are still important at this stage.

Read Many Sight Words – Building a strong bank of sight words boosts reading confidence.

Understand What I Read – Reading comprehension becomes a focus in first grade.

Answer Story Questions – Can your child respond to who, what, when, where, and why?

Tell the Story Order – Retelling a story in order shows strong language and memory skills.

Write Simple Sentences – Sentence writing introduces grammar, punctuation, and structure.

Spell by Sounds – Sounding out words to spell is part of phonics development.

Name Start, Middle, End – Identifying parts of a word or story builds comprehension and sequencing skills.

Count to 100 – A major math milestone that supports future concepts.

Skip Count – Introduces patterns and prepares kids for multiplication.

Add and Subtract to 20 – A key part of early childhood math learning.

Solve Word Problems – Builds problem-solving and reading comprehension together.

Name 2D Shapes – Circle, triangle, square — understanding basic shapes continues to matter.

Name 3D Shapes – Sphere, cube, cone — expands into spatial reasoning.

Tell Time – Learning to read clocks builds independence and real-world awareness.

Name Coins and Value – A great life skill that also strengthens math understanding.

Measure with Objects – Early physical science and math skills are developed here.

Compare Sizes – Helps children observe and describe the world using comparative thinking.

Follow Steps – Completing multi-step tasks is part of increasing independence.

Work Alone – Practicing focus and stamina for solo tasks is key for success in first grade and beyond.

How to Use the Checklist

This free printable checklist is meant to be an easy way to support your child’s growth without pressure. You can go through it slowly over time, there is no need to check everything off in one sitting!

Try incorporating it into your daily routine or using it as a goal-setting tool as your child prepares for or works through first grade. You can also share it with your child’s teacher for discussion.

Download the First Grade Checklist

Click the link below to download your First Grade I Can… Checklist. The file also includes the Preschool and Kindergarten Checklists, so you can choose the one that matches your child’s needs — or browse the others if you’re curious about where your child has been or where they’re going!
If you’re not sure how to download the printable, here’s a quick guide to help:
👉 How to Download Our Printables

Let’s help our incoming first graders feel confident, capable, and ready to learn one skill at a time!